Unit 2 History Vocab

Articles of Confederation

The first written framework of government for the United States, established during the Revolutionary War. It created a weak central government with no executive branch or power to tax, leaving most power with the individual states.

Constitutional Convention

The 1787 meeting in Philadelphia where delegates originally intended to revise the Articles of Confederation, but instead drafted a completely new U.S. Constitution to establish a stronger national government.

Elastic Clause

A provision in Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution (also called the “Necessary and proper Clause”) that grants Congress implied powers to pass laws not explicitly listed in the Constitution, allowing federal power to expand over time

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, added in 1791 to guarantee individual liberties (like freedom of speech and religion) and limit the power of the federal government to satisfy Anti-Federalists concerns

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided and shared between a central national government and regional state governments

Alexander Hamilton

The first Secretary of the Treasury, a leader of the Federalist Party, and a key advocate for a national bank, strong central government, and financial system based on manufacturing and trade

Precedents of Washington

Traditions and practices established by George Washington during his presidency that set future standards, including forming a cabinet, serving only two terms, enforcing federal laws, and promoting foreign neutrality

Whiskey Rebellion

A 1794 uprising of western Pennsylvania farmers protesting a federal tax on whiskey. President Washingtons deployment pf troops to suppress it demonstrated the federal governments authority and ability to enforce its laws

Alien and Sedition Acts

Four controversial laws passed by the Federalist-led Congress in 1798 under President Adam’s that made it harder for immigrants to become citizens and criminalized false or malicious criticism of the government

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

Statements written secretly by Thomas Jefferson adn James Madison in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts, arguing that states has the right to declare unconstitutional federal laws null and void (the concept of nullification)

Louisiana Purhcase

IN 1803 land deal in which President Thomas Jefferson purchased the vast Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million, doubling the geographic size of the United States

Marbury v. Madison

Landmark 1803 Supreme Court decision led by Chief Justice John Marshall that established the principle of Judicial Review, giving the Court authority to strike down laws that violate the U.S. Constitution

War of 1812

Conflict fought between the U.S. and Great Britain Over issues like British impressment of American sailors and trade restrictions; it fueled a surge in American nationalism and domestic manufacturing

Nationalism

Intense devotion, loyalty, and pride toward one’s nation, emphasizing national unity over regional interests—especially strong in the U.S. following the War 1812

Monroe Doctorine

A foreign policy statement issued by President James Monroe in 1823 warning European nations against further colonization or intervention on the Western Hemisphere

Missouri Compromise

An 1820 agreement orchestrated by Henry Clay that admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, while establishing the 36×30’ line to restrict the expansion of slavery in the future northern territories

Sectionalism

Loyalty or devotion to the interests of a specific region or section of the country (such as the North vs. the South) rather than to the nation as a whole

Impressment

Practice of forcing captured sailors to serve in another nation’s navy (a cause of the War 1812)